Phoenix Childs is on fire this season! As a senior, he played a key role in helping Phillips win the Class 2A championship last year. He showed his skills by scoring big games, including 24 points in the super sectionals and 21 in the state semifinals.
This year, after coach Paris Martin’s departure from Phillips, Childs transferred to Perspectives-Leadership. Now, he’s the star player and is taking his game to new heights.
“He’s had five games where he scored 30 points,” says Warriors coach Justin Rhymes. “He’s one of the best players around, able to adapt to different defenses.”
In a recent match against Ag. Science, Childs scored 20 points, including an impressive stretch where he hit three three-pointers in a row during the second quarter.
“I always had the ability to score, but Coach Rhymes has helped me do it more consistently,” Childs said. “Now I can score in different ways.”
The Warriors led by 15 points at one point, but Ag. Science, with senior Chris Cole leading the charge, kept fighting until the end. Cole scored 19 points, and his teammate Isaiah Hall added another 10.
“These kids don’t give up,” said Cyclones coach Shawn Finnin. “They fight hard every game.”
Perspectives-Leadership started the season with high hopes. They wanted to compete for both the city title and the Class 2A state championship. After a strong start, they faced some challenges, losing five of their last six games before the matchup with Ag. Science.
“It’s been tough, but we’re staying focused,” said senior James Amison. “We want to prepare for city and state championships. We have to come back stronger.” Amison, who stands at 6-7, contributed with two points and seven rebounds in the game.
Coach Rhymes praised Amison’s consistency: “James is like our superhero. He protects the rim and covers for us when we make mistakes.”
Derrick Dowdell, another new addition to the team, added six points and five rebounds. He acknowledged the team’s learning curve during their rough patch: “We realized we need to stay united and play together. We can’t lose faith in each other.”
No matter the challenges, the Warriors’ goals remain clear. Remember, Childs’ former team lost nine games last season before winning the title. “The existing players embraced me and Dowdell because they all want to succeed,” Childs said. “If we come together like we did at Phillips, we can make a deep run this year.”
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